The History Of Herodotus Volume 2 of 2

Page: 107

86. This is the manner of fighting of these men, and they were arrayed
next to the Persians. The Medes had the same equipment as their men on
foot, and the Kissians likewise. The Indians were armed in the same manner
as those of them who served on foot, and they both rode horses 78
and drove chariots, in which were harnessed horses or wild asses. The
Bactrians were equipped in the same way as those who served on foot, and
the Caspians likewise. The Libyans too were equipped like those who served
on foot, and these also all drove chariots. So too the Caspians 79
and Paricanians were equipped like those who served on foot, and they all
rode on camels, which in swiftness were not inferior to horses.

87. These nations alone served 80 as cavalry, and the
number of the cavalry proved to be eight myriads, 81 apart from the camels
and the chariots. Now the rest of the cavalry was arrayed in squadrons,
but the Arabians were placed after them and last of all, for the horses
could not endure the camels, and therefore they were placed last, in order
that the horses might not be frightened.

88. The commanders of the cavalry were Harmamithras and Tithaios sons of
Datis, but the third, Pharnuches, who was in command of the horse with
them, had been left behind at Sardis sick: for as they were setting forth
from Sardis, an accident befell him of an unwished-for kind,—as he
was riding, a dog ran up under his horse's feet, and the horse not having
seen it beforehand was frightened, and rearing up he threw Pharnuches off
his back, who falling vomited blood, and his sickness turned to a
consumption. To the horse however they forthwith at the first did as he
commanded, that is to say, the servants led him away to the place where he
had thrown his master and cut off his legs at the knees. Thus was
Pharnuches removed from his command.

89. Of the triremes the number proved to be one thousand two hundred and
seven, and these were they who furnished them:—the Phenicians,
together with the Syrians 82 who dwell in Palestine furnished three
hundred; and they were equipped thus, that is to say, they had about their
heads leathern caps made very nearly in the Hellenic fashion, and they
wore corslets of linen, and had shields without rims and javelins. These
Phenicians dwelt in ancient time, as they themselves report, upon the
Erythraian Sea, and thence they passed over and dwell in the country along
the sea coast of Syria; and this part of Syria and all as far as Egypt is
called Palestine. The Egyptians furnished two hundred ships: these men had
about their heads helmets of plaited work, and they had hollow shields
with the rims large, and spears for sea-fighting, and large axes: 83
the greater number of them wore corslets, and they had large knives.

90. These men were thus equipped; and the Cyprians furnished a hundred and
fifty ships, being themselves equipped as follows,—their kings had
their heads wound round with fillets, 84 and the rest had
tunics, 85
but in other respects they were like the Hellenes. Among these there are
various races as follows,—some of them are from Salamis and Athens,
others from Arcadia, others from Kythnos, others again from Phenicia and
others from Ethiopia, as the Cyprians themselves report.